Joining Up Development The Story of the INTERREG IIIA Programme in the Irish Central Border Area Cllr Sean McDermott, Chairperson ICBAN Contents Welcome I feel honoured as Chairperson and Welcome Board Member of ICBAN to be asked to pen a few words on the occasion Cllr Sean McDermott, of the celebrations of INTERREG IIIA 1 Chairperson, ICBAN Cross Border Co-operation 2003- 2008. I have seen ICBAN make a big difference in its catchment areas along Foreward the border. Coming as I do from one of the ‘weaker’ counties, I can vouch Pat Colgan, for the positive change ICBAN has 2 Chief Executive, made from its involvement in a wide range of projects such as Special EU Business Economical Development, Knowledge Economy, Rural Programmes Body Businesses, Tourism Projects and Community Projects. In the years to come, I have no doubt ICBAN will continue to be at Introduction the forefront in facilitating organisations towards major strategic local government led regional development activities and also in lobbying key issues such as infrastructure investment and look Lynda Monteith, forward to the part ICBAN will play in delivering the multi-annual 3 Acting CEO, ICBAN plan 2008-202 for the region. Measures 4 Measure . 47 Measure .2 58 Measure .3 79 And Finally... ICBAN Mission Statement ICBAN will continue to improve the quality of life and prosperity of the Central Border Region by creating a dynamic model of best practice and partnership in Cross Border Development. Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, Special EU Programmes Body. Foreword The INTERREG IIIA Programme and the projects it has funded provide clear evidence of the commitment of the European Union to regional development. The programme is one of over 70 programmes throughout Europe that have been created by the European Union to promote co-operation across borders and between regions in order to transfer knowledge and experience, to take advantage of development opportunities and to address problems that arise as a result of the existence of borders. In Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland, INTERREG IIIA has benefited from the existence of a unique group of partnerships between local authorities on both sides of the border. These include the East Border Region (EBR), the North West Region Cross Border Group (NWRCBG) and the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN). An additional two partnerships have emerged over recent years to complement the work of these they are the North East Partnership (NEP) and COMET, a partnership group of local authorities around the Belfast metropolitan area. These partnerships have played a key role in implementing the programme. They have ensured that the support of the European Union reaches its citizens at the grass roots level and that the aims of the programme are achieved. They have brought local authorities together in a dynamic way to promote co-operation in addressing common challenges and taking advantage of opportunities. One of the fundamental aims of the INTERREG IIIA Programme was to promote economic development in cross-border areas through the development of skills of individuals and encourage entrepreneurship in smaller firms. In aiding in the delivery of the INTERREG IIIA Programme the partnerships have been involved in the expansion of over 850 SMEs in the region. It is testament to the success of the partnership structure that 3,86 people have received both training in new-skills and retraining. These partnerships will continue to play a valuable role in the INTERREG IVA Programme, delivering Multi Annual Plans in their area. The Multi Annual Plans will for the first time include partners from Western Scotland, the new region in the eligible area. This “bottom-up” approach, one of the major successes of the INTERREG IIIA Programme, will continue in INTERREG IVA, thus ensuring the legacy of the programme endures through the next programming period. I believe as the INTERREG IIIA Programme draws to a close the opportunity should be taken to commend what the programme and the projects funded through it have achieved. Over three hundred projects were made possible by the programme and the examples highlighted in this document give a snapshot of the opportunities that have been created. ICBAN is to be commended in its initiative in undertaking this compilation of successful INTERREG IIIA projects. In doing so it is fulfilling an important duty of those involved in programme implementation to promote the assistance of the European Union in the region. I congratulate all members, officers and staff of the ICBAN partnership in their important contribution to the INTERREG IIIA Programme and wish all of those who continue their work in the INTERREG IVA Programme every success. 2 Lynda Monteith, ICBAN Intoduction Since its formation in 995 the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) has established itself as one of three local authority-led and sponsored cross border development organisations. Our raison d’etre is to promote cross border cooperation as a means of developing the central border region as a whole. Together with our sister organisations the East Border Region and the North West Region Cross Border Groups we have jointly managed 3 Measures of the INTERREG IIIA Programme: Measure .: Business and Economic Development Measure .2: The Knowledge Economy Measure .3: Human Resources, Development & Skilling The overall aim of the Ireland / Northern Ireland INTERREG IIIA Programme has been to promote sustainable economic and social development across all of Northern Ireland and the 6 Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland: Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. This has been achieved through funding a vast range of cross border activities which are providing essential infrastructure and services necessary for economic growth. Indeed, ICBAN has invested €23 million in the central border region through the INTERREG IIIA Programme. We have funded over 70 projects covering a wide spectrum of sectors spanning from tourism development projects to robotics engineering to environmental education projects. This document is an anthology of the projects which have been supported by ICBAN through the INTERREG IIIA Programme in the period 2003 - 2008. As we reach the end of this European programming period, it is important to profile and acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of all those involved. The ICBAN Partnership, Management and Staff are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with these projects, building partnerships which will extend beyond the lifetime of the funding period. This document clearly demonstrates the excellent work and commitment of these projects in creating real benefits, leaving a lasting legacy that will support the region’s economy to perform well in the coming months and years. We hope it will raise awareness of the excellent work that has been undertaken and serve to encourage newcomers to get involved in cross border work so that they too can reap the benefits to be gained from cross border cooperation, which are to the benefit of us all. The INTERREG IIIA Programme has enabled us to build on our collective strengths and meet some of the growing demand to cooperate across the border for mutual benefit. It has helped to transform the border from a line of separation into a place for communication between neighbours. This in turn is supporting ICBAN to achieve its vision of the central border region as no longer peripheral, but a truly central region which has the capacity to play a strong role and deliver results for both the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland economies. As we look to the future, ICBAN encourages all those who have been involved in the INTERREG IIIA Programme to continue their cross border cooperation and communicate with ICBAN about how the economy is changing, whether current polices are working and what further needs to be done in specific areas or sectors to support the development of the central border region. 3 Priority 1: Integrated Local Development Strategies 1.1 Measure 1: Business and Economic Development ICBAN implemented 41 projects under this measure. Objectives The Measure Objectives were: • To strengthen the SME sector to make it nationally and internationally competitive. • To develop sustainable initiatives in tourism which increase visitor numbers. • To explore and develop new market opportunities for the business and tourism sectors. • To promote effective cross border business linkages in work areas of mutual benefit. • Enabling joint development and marketing of goods and services. • Developing environmentally and economically sustainable initiatives that exploit the natural amenities and safeguard the natural endowments of the eligible area. Activities The Measure Activities included: • Development of cross border economic corridors and business to business linkages/ sub supplier networks. • Creation of networks/clusters of business co-operation, enterprise development and R&D. • Develop opportunities for business expansion through product & technology transfer. • Development of sustainable and environmental tourism & leisure infrastructure/products and area based marketing initiatives. • Identification of joint strategic inward investment initiatives and opportunities for exploitation of new markets. The following are submissions from Measure . projects and how they see their INTERREG story. Promotion of Quality Indigenous Food Produce 1.1 Promoter: Euro-Toques Ireland The Euro-toques Small Food Initiative, established